Welt mechanism for knitting machines



Feb. 9, 1943. c P 2,310,368

. WELT MECHANISM FOR KNITTING MACHINES I Filed Nov. 13, 1940 4Sheets-Sheet 1.

. INVENTOR. Carlos H. He b b Gig-min Feb. 9, 1943.v c. A. HEPP 42,310,368

WELT MECHANISM'FOR KNRIQIINS: MACHINES Filed NOV. 15, 19404.Sheets-Sheet 2 oooooooxroo V Y o 7- Q INVENTOR.

Carlos He bp Feb. 9, 19143. I

c. A. HEPP WELT MECHANISM FOR KNITTING MACHINES Filed Nov. 15, 1940 4Sheets-Sheet 3 OOOOOgTOOOQ INVENTOR.

Carlos Fl. Hep b 4 Q LX 59m.

Feb. 9, 1943. c. A. HEPP WELT MECHANISM FOR KNITTING MACHINES 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Nov. 13, 1940 INVE NTOR. Carlos A Hep/2 Patented Feb. 9,1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE- WELT MECHANISM FOR KNITTINGIVIACHINES- Carlos A. Hepp, Palisade. N. J., assignor to Alfred Hofmann,Inc., West New York,

2'7 Claims.

The invention as herein disclosed comprises improvements in that portionof fiat knitting machines for knitting full-fashioned hosiery by meansof which the welt fold is tensioned and drawn away from the knittingneedles.

The principal object of the invention is to provide an improved type ofwelt rod engaging mechanism that is of a simplified construction, moreefi'icient and positive in operation, and which may be solely operatedfrom a single wareroller shaft of a flat knitting machine.

Another object of the invention resides in the combination of twodistinct types of operative means separately and independentlyoperating, one through manipulation of a single wareroller shaft, andthe other through the manipulation of a weight for the independentselective operation of the welt rod and welt bar of the knittingmachine.

Other and more detailed objects of this invention will be apparent fromthe following detailed description of several embodiments thereof for asingle section of a knitting machine when taken with the illustrationscomprising the drawings attached hereto.

This invention resides substantially in the combination, construction,arrangement and relative location of parts, all as will be explained infull detail hereinafter.

In the accompanying drawings, sufficient parts of a single section of afiat-full-fashioned type knitting machine are shown to illustrate theinvention as applied thereto.

Figure 1 represents,'in perspective, the mechanism comprising one formof the invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged top plan view of a portion of the mechanismcomprising the invention;

Figure 3 is a side elevational View thereof;

Figure 4 is a plan view of a detail of this mechanism;

Figure 5 is a vertical, central, longitudinal, cross-sectional view ofthe detail;

Figure 6 is a view similar to that of Figure 2 of a modifiedconstruction;

Figure '7 illustrates a modification of the mechanism of Figure 4;

Figure 8 is a vertical, central, longitudinal,

cross-sectional view through the mechanism of Figure '7;

Figure 9 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 9-9 of Figure 8;and

Figure 10 is a cross-sectional view, similar to that of Figure 8, of astill further modified ar- N. J., a corpor-angement for the portion ofthe mechanism illustrated.

In accordance with prior practice in this art, after the knitting of thewelt fabric has proceeded to a sufficient length, the machine operatorlays in the welt rods for each knitting section. The welt fabric is thenturned back manually and the first course of loops is transferred backto the needles to form the welt. In order to lay in the welt rod it isnecessary to place each of the take-up straps individually into correctengagement with the welt rod. These operations are accomplishedmanually, and in a multiple section machine it requires a considerableamount of time in order to engage all of the welt rods with theirrespective take-up straps.

This is particularly unavoidable because of the fact that the sametake-up straps are used to draw ofi the welt bar with the welt fabricthereon in manual welt turning, which straps after being disengaged fromthe welt bar are hooked up with the welt rod to continue drawing off theknitted fabric.

However, with the advent of practically automatic welt turning devices,using separate drawoff means for the welt bar with the welt fabricthereon, this two-fold purpose of the ordinary draw-01f mechanismoperating through the wareroller and take-up straps has become obsolete.I

It may be stated as a general object of this invention to provide meanswhich is separate from the draw-01f means acting on the welt bar,operable as and for the purpose of drawing off the welt fabricintermediately, prior to, and after the automatic turning of thewel't,continuing the take-up functions by winding up the fabric on thewarerollers. This apparatus also operates to position the take-up strapswith welt rod hooks thereon in unison in all the sections of themachine, so that the operator after knitting a certain length of weltfabric simply lays in the welt rods since the take-up straps and weltrod receiving means have already been drivento a position to receive thewelt rods by rotating the wareroller shaft in the direction opposite tothe take-up direction.

An additional advantage of this arrangement lies in the fact that aftercompletion of the knitting operations of a stocking, the latter may beunwound from the wareroller by the rotation of the shaft in thedirection opposite to the takeup, without the draw-off bands or strapsbecoming loose and dangling into postiions from which they are dimcultto recover and rearrange. During this unreeling of the fabric the weltrod engaging members on the draw-off straps are driven toward theirposition ready for the next engagement of the welt rods therewith.

In other words, the device consists, with other constructive details, ofa belt drive actuated exclusively by the rotative action of a singlewareroller shaft to move all welt rod engaging members in eitherdirection, towards or away from the needle substantially in a horizontalplane, and in a rotative motion substantially over the circumference ofthe wareroller.

A detailed description of the mechanism herein disclosed foraccomplishing these objects in accordance with this invention will nowbe given. Only so much of a flat knitting machine section is illustratedin the drawings as is necessary to set forth the application of theinvention thereto. Although the invention is shown applied to a knittingmachine adapted for manual welt turning, it can equally well be appliedto a machine having an automatic welt turning mechanism.

A single knitting section of a multi-section full-fashioned type flatknitting machine as illustrated in Figure 1 includes the table I, commonin such machines. The needle bar 2 supports the knitting needles 10which, with the mechanism usually associated therewith but not shown inorder to keep the disclosure simple, knits the welt and stocking fabric.

In accordance with the usual practice in manual welt turning mechanism,the welt bar 3 is provided with a plurality of welt bar hooks 5 on whichthe first course of loops of the welt fabric W is impaled. The hooks 5are offset as indicated at 6 for a purpose which will be referred tolater. The welt bar 4 is supported on guide rails 3 mounted on the tableI by brackets 3' which hold the welt bar above the table, as shown, formovement towards and away from the needles ID. A strap 1 is connected tothe welt bar 4 by a suitable fixture II and extends over a guide bar 9so as to be above the wareroller 13. A weight 8 attached to the strap 1acts to pull the welt bar 4 in draw-off direction and is so shown hereinfor diagrammatic illustration. The guides 3 are provided with stops 3",against which the welt bar abuts after a predetermined length of weltfabric has been knitted so that the continued draw-off of the weltfabric may be resumed by the previously inserted welt rods inconjunction with the takeup mechanism described herein.

The usual wareroller shaft l2 common to all knitting sections of theknitting machine is provided, on which is mounted a wareroller I3 foreach section of the machine. The shaft l2 extends throughout the entirelength of the ma chine and is provided at one end with a reel l5 whichis connected by a rope H to a weight I! after the rope passes over afixed pulley it. The reel I5 which is connected in the usual practice tothe shaft I2 by the usual ratchet and pawl mechanism (not shown), issubjected to a force by reason of the weight ll acting through the ropell to cause clockwise rotation of the shaft I2.

The wareroller I3 is mounted for relative rotational movement of theshaft [2, Secured to the ends of the roller (see Figure 5) are thedouble pulleys or reels I 4 which in turn are secured to the shaft [2 bymeans of coil springs I4. As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the inner ends ofthe springs are attached to the shaft l2, as indicated at M while theouter ends of the springs are connected to the outer faces of the reelsM by means of the pins M Thus the wareroller is driven in a clockwisedirection (viewed from the right hand end, Fig. 1) by the shaft I2 butthrough the springs l4 so that some relative movement therebetween canoccur.

Each of the straps I8 is connected to the sections of each double reel Mat both ends, a indicated at l8 and IS in Figure 2. The straps each passaround pulleys l9 mounted on the shafts l9 and form upper and lowerlengths as a result of their attachment to the reels M. The shafts l9are journaled in brackets l9" mounted on the table I. Extending betweenthe straps is a bar which has slotted ends, as indicated at 20', so thatit may be adjustably attached to the straps as clearly shown in Figures2 and 3.

Secured on the bar 28 in any suitable manner, as for example by welding,are the welt hooks 2| which engage the ends of the welt rod 22 when itis in place. Engaging the lower length of each strap I8 is a tensioningdevice consisting of a pulley 23, a supporting yoke 24, and a spring 25secured to one of the supports '25 of the machine. As indicated mostclearly in Figure 3, the innermost flange of each double reel I4 is cutaway, as indicated at !4 so that when the welt rod is in the positionindicated in Figure 4, that is, when it arrives at the wareroller, theends connecting rod 20 to the straps will lie in them.

After-"a sufiicient length of the welt W has been drawn off, welt rod 22is laid in and the welt is turned, that is the initial welt loops aretransferred to the needles l9 by proper positioning of the welt bar 4,and welt hook 5 in relation to the needles IE1 in accordance with theusual manual method of welt turning. In the form of mechanism the stops3 are adjustable to obtain the desired length of welt fabric, and afterthe welt is turned, the welt bar is allowed to rest against them duringthe knitting of the leg portion. As the operation of knitting continues,the welt rod 2| lies in the turned welt fabric W and performs itsfunction of drawing off the fabric as the knitting thereof continues.

The welt rod draw-off operating mechanism of this invention may beequally well used with machines in which the welt is automaticallyturned. In the case of automatic welt turning mechanism the welt bardoes not perform the function of drawing off the entire length of thewelt so that during an intermediate period the welt rod draw-offmechanism of this invention is used for drawing off the remainder of thewelt. In this form of operation after a portion of the welt is drawn oilthe welt bar no longer performs this function but is stationary againstthe stops 3". The welt rod is laid in on the welt and as the knitting ofthe welt proceeds the welt rod performs the draw-off function. Theinitial row I of loops then engages the offset portions 6 of the welthooks 5 where it remains as the welt rod moves rearwardly thereof todraw-off the welt in a fold under the welt bar. When the knitting of thewelt is completed the automatic welt turning mechanism performs itsfunction by transferring the initial course of loops to the needles Ill.The mechanism of this invention permits this operation because, as thewelt bar is moved towards the needles ID for the purpose of transferringthe loops from the hooks 5 to the needles ID, the welt rod mechanismcooperates therewith by permitting the welt rod to move back towards theneedles as it must do because of the shortening of the welt resultingfrom the turning thereof.

Thus, as will be apparent from the above description, the invention isapplicable for use with either manual or automatic welt turningmachines. It is likewise apparent that if the guides 3 are provided withthe properly positioned stops 3" a similar operation with the manualwelt turning mechanism of Figure 1 may be carried out. In this case thewelt bar 4 would draw'oif the welt W until the bar engages the stops 3".The welt rod 2| would then be laid in overthe welt and the welt roddraw-off mechanism would operate to continue drawing off the welt fabricat which time the first course of loops impaled on the welt hooks 5would engage the ofiset portion 6 of these hooks to form a stop forthem. When the knitting of the welt is completed it can then be turnedmanually in a manner similar to which it would be turned automaticallyin the case of the automatic welt turning machine.

In either type of machine as the knitting proceeds, the upper portionsof the straps I8 are wound upon the pulleys I4, while the lower portionsare unwound therefrom through the action of the usual ratchet and pawldevice and the weight I! on the shaft I2, so that the welt rod graduallymoves toward the shaft I2, that is, in

what may be termed the draw-off direction. In other words, as the upperportions of the strap I8 wind up on the reels I4, the lower portionsunwind therefrom simultaneously without having to overcome any addedforce such as separate tensioning weights hereofore used with the positioning straps attached to the welt rod engaging members.

It will be clear by reference to Figure 7, and upon consideration, thatthe coil of each strap supplying the upper portions is decreasing indiameter as the lower portions are wound up, which will alternatelycause a change in the relative length of the strap portions. In thisform of the device, the change in length of the portions of the strapsis compensated for by the tensioning means 25 engaging the lower portionof the straps. The wareroller I3 is resiliently connected to the shaftI2 in order not to impose too great a strain on the welt fabric duringthe initial stages of the knitting thereof after the welt rod takes overthe draw-off action, at which time it is less stretchable because of itsshortness than it will be as it grows longer.

The knitting of the leg portion of the stocking proceeds with the weltrod draw-off mechanism acting as before. The bar 2|] moves into thenotches I I as indicated in Figure 4, where it stays While strap I8continues to wind itself up on one portion of reel I4 and simultaneouslyto unwind itself from the other reel portion. As the knitting continues,the knitted fabric is rolled up on the wareroller and welt rod, whichnow lies parallel to the wareroller and close to it, as indicated inFigure 4. In other words, the fabric is gradually wrapped around thewareroller and also encloses the welt rod and bar 20 as will be apparentfrom a consideration of Figure 4.

The machine then continues to knit until the leg portion is finished. Itgoes without saying that there is sufficient strap coiled up in theouter grooves of the pulleys I4 at the beginning of the operation topermit the shaft I2 and wareroller I3 to rotate a sufiicient number ofrevolutions to complete the knitting-of a full length stock- It will beseen that the apparatus is so arranged and designed as to ensure an evendrawoff tension in the fabric throughout the entire knitting operation.'The apparatus is also designed and arranged to compensate foradjustment differences such as variations in the position of the weltrod hooks and the bar 2!] on the strap members. It is of course apparentthat other arrangements may be provided for the purpose of ensuringuniform tension in the fabric for different positions of the bar 29, asfor example interposed coil spring tensioning members arrangedsubstantially as described in United States Patent No. 1,545,953.

There is illustrated in Figure 3 a slight variation which may be of use.In this case the lower portion of the straps I8 are passed over the topof the table I and where necessary, although not shown, suitableanti-friction means such as rollers and slideways may be employed.

A modified construction is shown in Fig. 6. Only sufiicient of thisstructure is shown to illustrate the modification. In this arrangementthere is attached to the wareroller I3 at each end a spool or pulley 21which has secured thereto at its ends a sufficiently long length oftightly coiled spring 28. The ends are attached to the spool 27 by meansof clamps 28 and 28 as clearly shown in the figure. The springs passaround the pulleys I9 on the shaft I9, as before, and the bar 20 issecured at its ends to the spring in any suitable manner, as by means ofwelding, as indicated at 20 It is to .be noted in this case that thewareroller I3 is secured to the shaft I2 for rotation therewith. In thisarrangement the tightly coiled spring 28 provides all the necessaryresiliency to ensure a relatively constant tension in the fabricthroughout its knitting. The mechanism is shown in Figure 6 in theposition it would assume when the welt rod 22 is in the position shownin Figure 1. At this time there is a sufficient amount of the springs 28coiled up on the spools 21 to permit a complete operation, at the end ofwhich the portion shown on the spools 21 has unwound and has beenreplaced by the portion wound thereon from the upper course of thespring. It will be seen that as the portion on the spool unwinds it willbe closely followed by the portion being wound onto it from the uppercourse of the spring.

The spools also are provided with the notches 21 corresponding to thenotches [4 of the previous construction, so that this-modificationoperates in a manner substantially similar to that previously described.If desired, but not necessarily so, the spools 21 may have peripheralspiral grooves in which the turns of the springs may nest. Thisconstruction is not necessary. however, since the turns from the uppercourse of the spring 28 follow closely into position as the turns fromthe lower course are unwound. Sufiicient spring is provided, as in thecase of the straps, to permit the knitting of a complete length ofstocking.

It is particularly noteworthy that in this modified embodiment the loopof the coiled spring extending from the wareroller spool towards thetable over roller I9 does not change in length during the winding orunwinding operation because of the fact that the simultaneous windingand unwinding of the coiled spring occurs over an even diameter of thespool. Consequently, no separate means need be employed to compensatefor any length variations of the loop portion for the purpose of keepingit taut.

In both of these arrangements, after the stocking length is completed itis unwound from the wareroller, the welt rod disengaged from the hooks 2I, and then disengaged from the welt loop. The warerollers are thenrotated further in a counter-clockwise direction until the Welt hookswhich are moving in unison are put back in initial position. Theapparatus is then ready to again go through the same cycle ofoperations.

In Figures '7 to 10, inclusive, there are illustrated several modifiedconstructions with respect to the strap, spools or pulleys. In theconstruction of Figures 7 to 9, inclusive, the pulley is shown in twoparts. The part 30 consists of a cylindrical portion having a flange,and is attached to the end of wareroller I3 as shown in Figure 8. It, inturn, is attached to the shaft I2 by means of a set screw 30. Acomplementary portion 3! is rotatably mounted on the central hub 30forming part of the portion 30. A torsion spring 33 lies in a recess inthe outer face of the portion 3| and is attached thereto at one end bymeans of a pin 34 and at its other end by means of a pin 35 to a collar32 which is secured on the shaft I2 by means of a set screw 36.

The collar 32 closes the recess and completes a housing for the spring33. With this construction it will be apparent that the portion 3| iscapable of relative rotational movement with respect to the shaft I2,the wareroller I3, the portion 33, and the collar 32, all of which partsare secured in the shaft I2. This provides a resilient arrangement totake up the slack of the straps arising because of the aforesaidvariations in the length of the loop portions of said straps.

Figure 10 represents a modification of the previous construction. Inthis case the pulley consists of a part 31 secured to the wareroller I3as shown. Secured on the shaft I2 adjacent the portion 31 is the otherportion 38 which is attached to the shaft by the set screw 39. In thisarrangement the wareroller I3 is not secured to the shaft I2. Theportion 38 is recessed and houses a coil spring 40, the outer end ofwhich is attached to the portion 3! by means of the pin 4i, and theinner end is attached to the portion 33 by the pin 52. In thisarrangement the wareroller I3 and the portion 31 are capable of relativerotational movement as a unit with respect to the shaft I2 and theportion 38 which is secured thereto.

In the constructions of Figures '7 and 10 the ends of the strap I8 areattached to the respective sections 38 and 3i, and 3'! and 33, as in thecase of the arrangement of Figure 1. The straps I 8 may be made of anysuitable flexible material, preferably of the woven type, and may beeither stretchable or non-stretchable. In place of the spring 28 ofFigure 6, an equivalent strap would be one made of rubber, such as roundrubber belting. In View of the various forms which the straps may takeit is to be understood that the term in the claims is used in itsbroader sense to include all forms of strands suitable for the purpose.

From the above description it will be apparent to those skilled in theart that the subject matter of this invention is capable of embodimentin various physical forms, and I do not, therefore, desire to be limited:by the disclosure herein but rather .by the scope of the claims grantedme.

What is claimed is:

1. In a full-fashioned hosiery knitting machine, a welt rod actuatingmechanism comprising, in combination with a single wareroller shaft,

means for engaging the welt rod, and a single means actuated by saidwareroller shaft for moving said first means in one direction to receivethe welt rod, and then moving said first means in the opposite directionto actuate said rod in draw-off direction, said second means including apulley mounted on said wareroller shaft and a folded strap engaging saidfirst means and having its end portions wrapped in opposite directionsupon said pulley.

2. In a full-fashioned hosiery knitting machine, a welt rod actuatingmechanism comprising, in combination with a single wareroller shaft,means for engaging the Welt rod, and a single means actuated by saidwareroller shaft for moving said first means in one direction to engagethe welt rod, and then moving said first means in the opposite directionto actuate said rod, said second means including a pair of pulleysmounted on said wareroller shaft, and a strap having its end portionswrapped in opposite directions upon said pair of pulleys and having anintermediate portion secured to said means.

3. In a full-fashioned hosiery knitting machine, a welt rod actuatingmechanism comprising, in combination with a single wareroller shaft,means for engaging the welt rod, and a single means actuated by saidwareroller shaft for moving said first means in one direction to receivethe welt rod and then moving said first means in the opposite directionto move said rod, said second means including a pair of .pulleys mountedon said wareroller shaft, and a yieldable strap having its end portionswrapped in opposite directions upon said pair of pulleys and having anintermediate portion secured to said means.

4. In a full-fashioned hosiery knitting machine, a welt rod actuatingmechanism comprising, in combination with a single wareroller shaft,means for engaging the welt rod, a single means actuated by saidwareroller shaft for moving said first means in one direction to engagethe welt rod and then moving said first means in the opposite directionto actuate said rod, said second means including a pair of pulleysmounted on said wareroller shaft, and a strap having its end portionswrapped in opposite directions upon said pair of pulleys and having anintermediate portion secured to said means, and a tensioning device forholding the strap taut in the operation thereof.

5. In a multi-section full-fashioned knitting machine, in combination, awelt rod for each section, a single wareroller shaft, a separate deviceengaging each welt rod, and a separate single operating means for eachdevice actuated solely by said wareroller shaft for moving theassociated device in the opposite direction to actuate said rod, saidmeans including a pair of pulleys mounted on said wareroller shaft, anda strap having its end portions Wrapped in opposite directions upon said,pair of pulleys and having an intermediate portion secured to saiddevice.

6. In a multi-section full-fashioned knitting machine, in combination, awelt rod for each section, a single wareroller shaft, 21 separate deviceengaging each welt rod, a separate single operating means for eachdevice actuated solely by said wareroller shaft for moving theassociated device in one direction to engage the welt rod, and formoving said device in the opposite direction to actuate said rod, saidmeans including a pair of pulleys mounted on said wareroller shaft, anda strap having its end portions wrapped in opposite directions upon saidpair of pulleys and having an intermediate portion secured to saiddevice, and a tensioning device for holding the strap taut in theoperation thereof.

'7. In a full-fashioned hosiery knitting machine, in combination, a weltrod, a wareroller shaft and a wareroller mounted thereon, a pair ofpulleys mounted on each end of the wareroller, a pair of reels arrangedcontiguous to said welt rod, a pair of flexible straps each having anintermediate portion passed around one of said reels and its endportions wrapped in opposite directions around a pair of said pulleys,

a bar connecting the straps together, and hooks on said bar forengagement with the welt rod.

8. In a full-fashioned hosiery knitting machine, in combination, a weltrod, a wareroller shaft and a wareroller mounted thereon, a pair ofpulleys yieldably mounted on each end of the wareroller, a pair of reelsarranged contiguous to said welt rod, a pair of flexible straps eachhaving an intermediate portion passed around one of said reels and itsend portions wrapped in opposite directions around a pair of saidpulleys, a bar connecting the straps together, hooks on said bar forengagement with the welt rod, and tensioning devices engaging anintermediate portion of each strap for holding the same taut.

9. In a full-fashioned hosiery knitting machine, in combination, a weltrod, a wareroller shaft and a wareroller mounted thereon, a pair ofpulleys yieldably mounted on each end of the wareroller, a pair of reelsarranged contiguous to said welt rod, a pair of flexible straps eachhaving an intermediate portion passed around one of said reels and itsend portions wrapped in opposite directions around said pair of pulleys,a bar connecting the straps together, hooks on said bar for engagementwith the welt rod, tensioning devices engaging an intermediate portionof each strap for holding the same taut, a welt bar having a series ofWelt hooks, guide rails upon which said welt bar is mounted for slidingmovement, adjustable stops on said rails to limit the movement of saidwelt bar, a strap secured to said welt bar, and a weight secured to saidstrap.

10. In a full-fashioned hosiery knitting machine, in combination, a weltrod, a wareroller shaft and a wareroller mounted thereon, a pair ofpulleys mounted on the wareroller, a pair of reels arranged contiguouswith said Welt rod, a pair of flexible straps each having anintermediate portion passed around one of said reels and its endportions wrapped in opposite directions around one of said pulleys, abar connecting the straps together, hooks on said bar for engagementwith the welt rod, tensioning devices engaging an intermediate portionof each strap for holding the same taut, a welt bar having a series ofwelt hooks, guide rails upon which said welt bar is mounted for slidingmovement, stops on said rails to limit the movement of said Welt bar, astrap secured to said welt bar, a weight secured to said strap, and atensioning device for each strap engaging an intermediate portionthereof.

11. In a full-fashioned stocking knitting machine, in combination, abank of knitting needles, means coacting with said knitting needles forthe knitting of a welt fabric and the turning thereof, and a mechanismfor tensioning the welt fabric consisting of a welt'rod, a warerollershaft, a pair of pulleys yieldably mounted on each end of the warerollershaft, a pair of reels arranged contiguous to said welt rod, a pair offlexible straps each having an intermediate portion passed around one ofsaid reels and an end portion Wrapped in opposite directions around saidpair of pulleys, and hooks connected to said straps and adapted forengagement and disengagement with the welt rod.

12. In a full-fashioned knitting machine, a wareroller shaft, a pair ofstrap loops supported at their bights, means for resiliently attachingboth ends of each strap to said shaft so that upon rotation of saidsh'aft one end of each strap coils about it as its other end uncoils,and welt rod engaging means mounted on said straps.

13. In a full-fashioned hosiery knitting machine, in combination, asingle wareroller shaft, a welt rod, and mechanism for operating thewelt rod including a pair of straps for engagement with the welt rod,each strap having both end portions attached to the wareroller shaft.

14. In a full-fashioned hosiery knitting ma chine, a single warerollershaft, a welt rod, mechanism for operating the welt rod including a pairof straps for engagement with the welt rod, each strap having both endportions wrapped about and attached to the wareroller shaft, and weltrod engaging hooks connected to the straps.

15. In a full-fashioned hosiery knitting machine, in combination, asingle wareroller shaft, a welt rod, mechanism for operating the weltrod including a pair of straps for engagement with the welt rod, eachstrap having both end portions wrapped about and attached to thewareroller shaft, welt rod engaging hooks connected to the straps, awelt bar, and means independent of said straps for sliding said weltbar.

16. In a full-fashioned hosiery knitting machine, in combination, asingle wareroller shaft, a welt rod, mechanism for operating the weltrod including a pair of straps for engagement with the Welt rod, eachstrap having both end portions wrapped about and attached to thewareroller shaft, welt rod engaging hooks connected to the straps, awelt bar, and means independent of said straps for sliding said weltbar, said means consisting of a strap and a weight connected to thestrap.

1'7. A welt rod take-up device comprising, in combination with a shaft,a folded strap for connection with the Welt rod and having both endportions solely secured to said shaft whereby upon rotation of the shaftin opposite directions the strap is moved in opposite directions.

18. A welt rod take-up device comprising, in combination with a shaft, afolded strap for connection with the welt rod and having both endportions solely secured to said shaft whereby, upon rotation of theshaft in opposite directions, the strap is moved in opposite directions,a welt bar, a strap secured to the welt bar, and a weight secured to thestrap.

19. In a multi-section full-fashioned knitting machine, in combination,a welt rod for each section, a single wareroller shaft, a separatedevice engaging each welt rod, and a separate single operating means foreach device actuated solely by said wareroller shaft for moving theassociated device in the opposite direction to actuate said rod, saidmeans including a pair of pulleys mounted on said wareroller shaft, anda strap having its end portion wrapped in opposite directions upon saidpair of pulleys and having an intermediate portion secured to saiddevice, a

welt bar for each section, and means for drawing and tensioning saidwelt bar.

20. In a multi-section full-fashioned knitting machine, in combination,a Welt rod for each section, a single wareroller shaft, a separatedevice engaging each welt rod, a separate single operating means foreach device actuated solely by said wareroller shaft for moving theassociated device in one direction to engage the welt rod, and; formoving said device in the opposite direction to actuate said rod, saidmeans including a pair of pulleys mounted on said wareroller shaft, anda strap having its end portions wrapped in opposite directions upon saidpair of pulleys and having an intermediate portion secured to saiddevice, a tensioning device for holding the strap taut in the operationthereof, a welt bar for each section, a strap attached to each Welt bar,and a weight attached to each strap.

21. In a full-fashioned hosiery knitting machine, in combination, a weltrod, a wareroller shaft and a wareroller mounted thereon, a pair ofpulleys mounted on each end of the wareroller, a pair of reels arrangedcontiguous to said welt rod, a pair of flexible straps each having anintermediate portion passed around one of said reels and its endportions wrapped in opposite directions around a pair of said pulleys, abar connecting the straps together, hooks on said bar for engagementwith the welt rod, a welt bar, a strap attached to the welt bar, and aweight attached to the strap.

22. In a full-fashioned hosiery knitting machine, in combination, a Weltrod, a wareroller shaft and a wareroller mounted thereon, a pair ofpulleys yieldably mounted on each end of the warerollers, a pair ofreels arranged contiguous to said welt rod, a pair of flexible strapseach having an intermediate portion passed around one of said reels andits end portions Wrapped in opposite directions around a pair of saidpulleys, a bar connecting the straps together, hooks on said bar forengagement with the welt rod, tensioning devices engaging anintermediate portion of each strap for holding the same taut, a weltbar, and means for drawing said welt bar under tension.

23. In a full-fashioned stocking knitting machine, in combination, abank of knitting needles,

means coasting with said knitting needles for the knitting of a weltfabric and the turning thereof, a mechanism for tensioning the weltfabric consisting of a welt rod, a wareroller shaft, a pair of pulleysyieldably mounted on each end of the wareroller shaft, a pair of reelsarranged contiguous to said welt rod, a pair of flexible straps eachhaving an intermediate portion passed around one of said reels and anend portion wrapped in opposite directions around said pair of pulleys,and hooks connected to said straps and adapted for engagement anddisengagement with the welt rod, a welt bar, a strap attached to thewelt bar, and a weight attached to the welt bar strap.

24. In a full-fashioned hosiery knitting machine, in combination, awareroller shaft, a welt rod, and flexible elements for attachment tosaid rod, each element having two end portions wrapped about said shaftwhereby rotation of the shaft in opposite directions moves the elementin opposite directions for the engagement with, and operation of, thewelt rod.

25. In a full-fashioned hosiery knitting machine, in combination, awareroller shaft, a welt rod, and coil springs for attachment to saidrod, each spring having two end portions wrapped about said shaftwhereby rotation of the shaft in opposite directions moves the spring inopposite directions for the engagement with, and operation of, the weltrod.

26. In a full-fashioned hosiery knitting machine, in combination, awareroller shaft, a Welt rod, a reel spaced from said wareroller shaftand rotatable independently thereof, a coil spring passing around saidreel and wareroller shaft and operated by said shaft, and welt rodengaging hooks connected to said coil spring.

27. In a full-fashioned hosiery knitting machine, in combination, ashaft, a welt rod, a reel, a coil spring passing around said reel andhaving end portions wrapped in opposite directions about said shaftwhereby upon rotation of said shaft in opposite directions the coi1spring is moved in opposite directions, and means connected to saidspring for engagement and disengagement with the welt rod.

CARLOS A. HEPP.

